Posted on 11/12/2004 9:31:04 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
No matter how obnoxious of a conservative-bashing liberal crusader Dan Rather is much of the time, when he returns to his patriotic Texas roots, he does so powerfully -- as he did Wednesday night in concluding the CBS Evening News with an emotional tribute to U.S. Marines. With a photo on screen of a grizzled Marine in Fallujah, Rather urged viewers: "Study it, absorb it, think about it. Then take a deep breath of pride. And if your eyes don't dampen, you're a better man or woman than I. Where such men come from and what will happen to our country when they cease to come, we can wonder with worry. But for now, we have them, and they are there in that brown hell known as Iraq. Whatever you may think of the war, they went for the right reason: They loved their country."
At the end of the November 10 newscast, Rather asked: "Now, if I may, with your indulgence, this is personal."
Up on screen, CBS displayed a picture, by Los Angeles Times photographer Luis Sinco, of a Marine in Fallujah with dirt of his face, blood on his nose and a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
As the photo enlarged and CBS zoomed in, Rather asserted: "The picture, did you see it? The best war photograph of recent years is in many newspapers today, front page in some. Taken by Luis Sinco of the Los Angeles Times, it is this close-up of a U.S. Marine on the front lines of Fallujah. He is tired, dirty and bloodied, dragging on that cigarette, eyes narrowed and alert, not with the thousand-yard stare of a dazed infantryman so familiar to all who have seen combat firsthand up close. No, this is a warrior with his eyes on the far horizon, scanning for danger. See it, study it, absorb it, think about it. Then take a deep breath of pride. And if your eyes don't dampen, you're a better man or woman than I. Where such men come from and what will happen to our country when they cease to come, we can wonder with worry. But for now, we have them, and they are there in that brown hell known as Iraq. Whatever you may think of the war, they went for the right reason [Rather back on screen in place of the picture]: They loved their country. May these men and women of honor, valor, integrity and loyalty know that they, their deeds and their sacrifices are not forgotten. That can be validated by every schoolchild in America being shown the picture and having it explained to them, lest they, and we, forget. For the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather reporting. Good night."
What clout does he have to make such a statement? Print it out on some signs, send them to the middle east, and allow the troops additional target practice.
I can't believe Baker is taken in by Rather's "patriotic" act, his transparent attempt to worm his way back into America's good graces after viciously slandering our President with obvious forgeries and failing to personally apologize to George Bush and his family.
Well, a broken clock is right twice a day ...
Tears or not, anybody is a better person than that lying sack of shiite. I loved watching that Castro knee-padder squirm on election night.
Tears or not, anybody is a better person than that lying sack of shiite. I loved watching that Castro knee-padder squirm on election night.
I think it's the NY Post photo with the caption "Smokin'"
I'll never watch or listen to him again.
It seemed ...ahem...rather contrived to me. not sincere at all. I don;t care that his voice cracked, that too sounded fake. Kinda like when Shatner was giving Spock's eulogy in Star Trek 2.
Oh, gee. He cried AGAIN?
True, but since there are some exceptions.....I have some friends who are good, fair journalists...I kind of hate it when everybody gets labeled.
But, the vast majority today are really bad.
bump
I suspect he is on many desktops as we speak. I know he is on mine :-)
It just shows God will still speak through a jack ass if he has to to get people to listen.
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